A Tyneside man has been jailed for three years at Newcastle Crown Court after trying to rob the family newsagent he had know for 15 years.

Glen Middis, 22, of Lish Avenue, Whitley Bay, entered Whitley News Agency in the town at 6am and ran at the owner, knocking him to the ground. Middis then grabbed cigarettes and shouted "I might as well have one of these", picking up a copy of a tabloid newspaper.

But the 66-year-old newsagent recognised his attacker's voice and told police.

Officers found several packets of cigarettes as well as the newspaper at Middis' home.

In a further bungle, he told officers he had bought the items from the Co-op in Cullercoats but a quick police check found the supermarket was not open at the time of the robbery.